Underground lava tubes on the moon and Mars are huge

According to foreign media(2021 hermes) reports, planetary scientists pointed out that the lava tubes below the surface of the Moon and Mars are huge enough to accommodate planetary bases for future space exploration.

Researchers from the Universities of Bologna and Padova in Italy have conducted an analysis of underground caverns formed on Mars and the Moon billions of years ago. These caverns can shield cosmic radiation, and the volume of these lava tubes can reach 1,000 the size of the earth. Times.

　　 The team also carried out measurements on similar lava tubes on Earth to estimate the volume of lava tubes below the surface of other planets. The largest lava tube discovered so far is on the moon, with a diameter of 304.8 meters at its widest point and a length of more than 40 kilometers, enough to accommodate a space base as large as a small town.

The reason why the lava tube on the moon is larger than that on the earth is because the gravity on the moon is much weaker, and it has much less influence on the lava flowing in the moon in the early formation. Lava tubes can be found on the earth, but according to the high-definition images taken by the interplanetary probe, this structure also exists under the surface of the moon and Mars. The signs of the existence of lava tubes are often through observing the linear cavity structure and extrusion. The formation of the twisted collapse chain is inferred.

　　 The shape of the lava tubes on the Moon and Mars are very similar to those on Earth, especially those in Hawaii, the Canary Islands and Australia. Scientists have carried out a lot of research on lava tubes on the earth and used these research results to estimate the size, shape and scale of lava tubes on other planets.

　　Researchers used digital terrain models to measure and collect the size and morphology data of collapse chains (ie, collapsed lava tubes) on the Moon and Mars. These data are measured through satellite images and laser altimeters carried by multiple interplanetary probes. These data were then compared with the terrain data of similar collapse chains on the earth, and the laser scanning results of the inside of lava tubes in Lanzarote and Galapagos. These data helped to further determine the relationship between the collapsed chain and the complete underground cave.

The researchers found that the Mars and Moon lava tubes are 100 and 1000 times wider than the Earth’s upper lava tubes, respectively. The lower gravity on the Moon and Mars, and the influence of low gravity on early volcanic activity may explain why their lava tubes are so much larger than on Earth. Such a wide lava tube can be more than 40 kilometers long underground on the moon, which is extremely suitable for underground exploration and establishment of settlements in it.

　　 These lava tubes have a wide open space and a stable environment, which can provide good protection for people and are enough to accommodate an entire town. Most importantly, although the lunar lava tube is huge, the top structure is still quite stable due to weak gravity on the moon. This means that most of the lava tubes below the plain are intact. Observations in the Marius Hills indicate that the observed collapse chain may have been caused by an asteroid hitting the wall of a lava tube. We may be able to enter these huge underground caves from here. These lava tubes can also stably shield cosmic rays and solar radiation, as well as the common micrometeorite impacts on planetary surfaces.

All over the world, people make full use of their creativity to try to design methods that can help humans safely "colonize" other planets, but they have encountered many challenges. These methods can be described as various, including the use of 3D printing technology to make lunar soil into usable materials, and honeycomb structures used to resist meteorites and radiation. The biggest advantage of the lava tube is that it can avoid the trouble of construction and may provide us with an environment with a small temperature difference between day and night.

　　 National space agencies are now interested in caves and lava tubes on planets, because they may help us take the first step towards future lunar exploration. The researchers also pointed out that this study opens up a new perspective for planetary exploration, focusing on the exploration of the subsurface of Mars and the moon.

　　 Since 2012, ESA has cooperated with some European universities, including the universities of Bologna and Padua, to carry out two astronaut training programs, the main focus is the exploration of underground systems and planetary geology. The training location included a lava tube on Lanzarote. A total of 36 astronauts from five space agencies were trained to walk in the cave.